The Green Bay Packers will pick late in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. Barring a trade up or down the board, GM Brian Gutekunst will come on the clock at No. 30 overall.
The Packers have proven in recent years how much they prioritize athleticism when drafting players early. They’ve drafted nothing but elite athletes in the first two rounds. Will the trend continue in 2020?
Here are the 16 most likely options for the Packers if they pick at No. 30:
Talent, athleticism fits
WR Justin Jefferson, LSU (RAS: 9.69): The perfect combination of talent, athleticism and fit. Jefferson is highly regarded and the least likely player on this list to make it to No. 30. A fall might be possible if teams think he’s only a slot.
OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State (RAS: 9.93): Cleveland plays a premium position and is ultra-athletic. In fact, he hit most of the major athletic benchmarks for projecting NFL success at offensive tackle. Lack of length and play strength are concerns.
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor (RAS: 9.76): Big, physical receiver who started for three seasons at Baylor and then blew up the pre-draft process, dominating corners at the Senior Bowl and acing workouts at the combine. He proved he can run a full route tree in Mobile, and all teams needing a receiver will be drawn to his size and athletic traits.
WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State (RAS: 8.46): It’s fair to wonder how much better Aiyuk would have tested had he not been dealing with a core muscle injury. He’s still a great athlete, with explosive movement ability and both length and leaping power, making him an ideal fit in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma (RAS: 9.89): Murray will enter the NFL as one of the league’s most athletic players at the linebacker position. He can be highly disruptive when playing downhill and sideline to sideline but is inexperienced in coverage. The Packers need a rangy playmaker at linebacker.
LB Patrick Queen, LSU (RAS: 8.0): He started only one season at LSU, and he’s not as big or athletic as Murray, but some teams like him more as an overall player. Queen is an ascending player.
WR/TE Chase Claypool, Notre Dame (RAS: 9.98): Is he a receiver or tight end? The Packers might not care. He’s an elite athlete with a rare combination of size and movement ability. There’s a chance Claypool could be a dangerous big slot or move tight end at the next level, but he’s a projection at this point.
CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson (RAS: 8.75): He has length, straight-line speed, and experience playing press-man, giving him starting-level traits. That profile will almost certainly attract the Packers, who view cornerback as a priority position.
DB Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois (RAS: 10.0): Chinn didn’t affect games the way we expected while watching the limited tape of him available, but there’s no denying his size and athletic ability, and the Packers probably love his versatility as a rangy deep safety and attacking box player.
QB Jordan Love, Southern Utah (RAS: 8.45): Taking a quarterback from a small school with decision-making and accuracy issues would be a gigantic risk, but Love has a super talented arm and is a great athlete for the quarterback position.
OT Austin Jackson, USC (RAS: 9.47): Jackson is big, talented and athletic, with the developmental pathway to being an above-average starter. He’s still young, too. His three-cone time is a concerning blemish on his athletic profile.
C Cesar Ruiz, Michigan (RAS: 9.07): Most view Ruiz as the top center available. The Packers used the 44th overall pick on Elgton Jenkins last year, so maybe Brian Gutekunst values the interior offensive line more than his predecessor. Ruiz is athletic and might have guard-center versatility, like Jenkins.
DL A.J. Epenesa, Iowa (RAS: 8.66): He’s a limited athlete when viewed as an edge rusher, but his RAS skyrockets when listed as an interior defensive lineman. Epenesa certainly has the frame and physicality to play inside in an odd front while adding value as a versatile rusher. The guess here is that the Packers love the player. Having him, Kenny Clark and Za’Darius as interior rushers could be dangerous.
WR Michael Pittman, USC (RAS: 8.29): Pittman is big, athletic and polished, making him a likely target of the Packers and a potential Year 1 contributor. He’s one of several players in the second tier of receivers, but he fits what the Packers look for at the position.
CB Kristan Fulton, LSU (RAS: 8.0): Solid combination of size, athleticism, competitiveness and press-man ability, but he’s polarizing as a prospect. His projections are all over the map.
S Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne (RAS: 9.57): 4.49 speed. Freakish athleticism. From a small school with a hyphenated name. Sounds like a description for Nick Collins. No, Dugger and Collins are not the same player, but scouts love Dugger’s athleticism and upside. A strong Senior Bowl may have pushed him into the top of the second round.
If the Packers are willing to overlook some athleticism deficits or target non-premium positions, here are other options:
Good players but not elite athletes
OT Josh Jones, Houston (RAS: 7.83): While Jones doesn’t check in as an elite athlete at offensive tackle, he does bring four years of dominant pass-blocking and a strong combination of length and mirroring ability to the table. He could be an early starter at right tackle.
LB Zack Baun, Wisconsin (RAS: 7.85): Few doubt Baun’s ability as a football player. He rushed the quarterback and disrupted against the run at a high level in Madison. Do the Packers think he can handle an off-ball role that includes opportunities to rush the passer? He’s a projection, but his floor as a prospect is high in the right defense.
WR Jalen Reagor, TCU (RAS: 6.06): His testing numbers at the combine could really scare the Packers off, but his tape reveals a highly explosive vertical threat who can create after the catch and add something different to the Packers’ receiver group.
S Antoine Winfield, Minnesota (RAS: 7.82): Winfield is short, but he’s not lacking in athleticism, instincts or playmaking ability. The testing numbers shouldn’t matter much for him. He’s just a really good player.
DL Jordan Elliott, Missouri (RAS: 7.41): Of all the top-75 defensive linemen capable of getting to 30, Elliott might have the best chance to consistently disrupt the passing game. That makes him the most valuable of the bunch.
OT Isaiah Wilson, Georgia (RAS: 7.27): He’s a massive right tackle prospect at 6-6, 350. He won’t be a fit for every team, but his potential is high.
DL Ross Blacklock, TCU (RAS: 7.85): When in attack mode, he flashes disruptive ability, and the Packers have always put a premium on adding good players along the defensive front. Can he add anything valuable against the run? Does he affect the passing game enough? His athletic profile is good but not great.
CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah (RAS: 7.78): Mike Pettine would love him as a perimeter press corner. He’s quick and physical, potentially providing an easy replacement should Kevin King depart in free agency in 2021.
CB Jeff Gladney, TCU (RAS: 6.16): Gladney’s playstyle is eerily reminiscent of Jaire Alexander, a first-round pick of the Packers in 2018, but he’s just not as athletic. Few corners in the class have his experience or competitiveness.
DL Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma (RAS: 7.17): He’s another big man who can move, but his disruptive moments were sporadic.
WR Tee Higgins, Clemson (RAS: 4.16): His athleticism score will be a deal-breaker for a lot of teams in the first round, but Higgins can play. He’s comfortable playing on the perimeter and using his size and hands to win downfield.
DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn (RAS: 6.42): He won’t be playing on the edge at the next level. Can he use agility and power to be an effective interior player?
S Xavier McKinney, Alabama (RAS: 5.88): Small and average athletically is no way to live as a do-it-all safety at the next level. What role will he play? He could have shortcomings in the slot and as a deep safety.
CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama (RAS: ?): Diggs lacks a full athletic profile, but he didn’t win with athleticism at the college level. He played the position with physicality at the line of scrimmage.
LB Jordan Brooks, Texas Tech (RAS: ?): A hot name in media circles the past few days. Brooks is a sideline-to-sideline off-ball linebacker with plenty of speed to close. Although his experience in coverage is limited, his 4.54 speed and fluid athleticism should translate to the next level, allowing him to develop into an adequate three-down linebacker.
Good players at non-premium positions
RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (RAS: 9.53): It’s difficult to envision the Packers using a first-round pick on a running back, especially with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams on the roster for at least another year, but Taylor is a terrific runner and an elite athlete, giving him the potential to be an instant impact contributor. Jones and Taylor could be a dynamic long-term tandem.
TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame (RAS: 8.92): The Packers haven’t drafted a tight end in the first two rounds since 2000. In fact, Jace Sternberger (No. 75) is the highest-picked tight end by Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst. Kmet didn’t dominate the college level but he’s tough, can play inline and is athletic at his size.
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU (RAS: 5.45): Who would draft a short running back lacking elite athleticism? Edwards-Helaire is certainly unique, but he’s an awesome runner who could be an impact pass-catcher at the next level.
RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia (RAS: 7.57): He’s smaller and might not be a full-time player, but he can be an impact player on all three downs. His receiving ability elevates his value.